KERALA, INDIA – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made his way to Wayanad in Kerala following a district-wide strike called by opposition parties after man-animal conflicts in the region turned violent on Saturday. The strike was organized in response to an incident on Friday in which a man was killed by a wild elephant near Kuruva island in Wayanad, sparking protests and demands for permanent solutions to the issue.
Gandhi, who was previously in Uttar Pradesh for his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ is now headed to Wayanad to address the concerns surrounding the recurring conflicts between humans and animals. His visit comes as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed concerned ministers to convene a high level meeting in Wayanad on February 20 to tackle the ongoing issue.
The strike in response to the elephant attack in Pulpally turned violent, with residents damaging a forest department vehicle in protest. This incident has further intensified the calls for action to address the escalating man-animal conflicts in Wayanad. The situation has disrupted normal life in the district, with shops remaining closed and vehicles staying off the roads.
The recent incident in which a 42-year-old man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in the Mananthavady area has fueled public outrage and led to widespread demonstrations in Wayanad. This mounting pressure has prompted political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, to prioritize the issue and seek long-term solutions to ensure the safety of the local communities and prevent further loss of life due to human-wildlife conflicts.